Smectic and nematic phase modulations and transitions under electron beam in Tb2Cu0.83Pd0.17O4
Release time:2022-07-06
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- Journal:
- Phys. Rev. Mater.
- Abstract:
- Understanding the structural origin of the functionality in cuprates has attracted tremendous attention over several decades. In particular, probing distortions in the Cu-O bonding is of great importance for exploring the coupling between the charge and the lattice, a key mechanism for superconductivity and other functionality in correlated materials. Here we study a superlattice modulation in the Tb2Cu0.83Pd0.17O4"214" material, which possesses no superconductivity itself but has the parent structure of the R2CuO4 (R = a rare-earth element) superconducting cuprate group. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we find that this superlattice modulation is formed by Cu ion displacements in a direction perpendicular to the Cu-O planes. The superlattice modulation undergoes a reversible electronic smectic-nematic phase transition under electron-beam illumination. With the help of in situ TEM results, our findings imply that the superlattice modulation in this material arises from spatially modulated charge ordering at the Cu sites.
- Co-author:
- Wang, W.; Sun, K.; Oey, Y. M.; Cava, R. J.; Wu, L.; Zhu, Y.; Yu, R.; Tao, J.
- Volume:
- 3,
- Page Number:
- 093601
- Translation or Not:
- no
- Date of Publication:
- 2019-08-01
- Links to published journals:
- https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.3.093601
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